British grandma gets death penalty in Bali drug smuggling case

British grandma gets death penalty in Bali drug smuggling case

Linsay June Sandiford of Britain covers her face as customs personnel display evidence at a customs office in Denpasar on Bali island on May 28, 2012.

British grandma Lindsay Sandiford received the death penalty after being found guilty of smuggling drugs into Bali.

The sentence went beyond the 15 years recommended by prosecutors, according to The New York Times, who brought Sandiford to an Indonesian court for smuggling $2.5 million worth of cocaine onto the island in the lining of her suitcase.

Sandiford, 56, said she was forced to carry the 10.6lbs of cocaine by a gang who threatened to hurt one of her children, reported BBC News. She now faces death by firing squad.

The judges at the Denpasar District Court said Sandiford appeared not to care about the consequences of her actions and showed no regret for what she did, which is what led them to the sentence, noted CNN. One of her lawyers, Ezra Karo Karo, said he was "surprised by the decision" and that they never expected the death penalty to be an option.

The UK government has condemned the decision, according to BBC, and Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire has said the UK will continue to give her and her family consular assistance.